Latching and rotating mechanism for elongated blade of high voltage electric switch



March 29, 1966 LATCHING AND ROTATING MECHANISM FOR ELONGATED BLADE Filed Oct. 2, 1965 J. TURNER 3,243,534

OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRIC SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n K m w 3* m Q R "a o I T 1 I 51 a fa; QC-I r INVENTOR azz;

March 29, 1966 J. L. TURNER 3,243,534

LATCHING AND ROTATING MECHANISM FOR ELONGATED BLADE OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

74%. {JIM I W/ I March 29, 1966 TURNER 3,243,534

J LATCHING AND ROTATING MECHANISM FOR ELONGATED BLADE OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v/ v Illlq VIII/170M!!! L VIII/1 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3,243,534 Patented Mar. 29, 1965 LATCHING AND ROTATING MECHANISM FOR ELONGATED BLADE OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELEC- TRIC SWITCH John L. Turner, East St. Louis, Ill., assignor to Turner Electric Corporation, East St. Louis, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 313,235

4 Claims. (Cl. 20048) The invention relates to a high voltage air break disconnect switch and more particularly to a switch including an elongated blade which is rotated manually about its longitudinal axis and swung about a transverse axis near an end of the blade when disengaging and engaging stationary jaws. Turner et al. patent 2,779,830 issued January 29, 1957, illustrates and describes a switch of this type, and the accompanying drawings illustrate such 'a switch with additional features as described below.

The main objects of the present invention are to facilitateetfective closing of the switch and to avoid accidental opening of the switch. These objects are attained by providing a lost motion connection between the switch blade and its manually actuated lever handle whereby an initial rotation of the blade about its longitudinal axis to release the heavy pressure friction engagement of the stationary jawsis assured before the blade can be swung about its transverse axis to move the blade contacts away from the jaws. Also the objects are attained by providing the swinging end of the switch blade and the switch stationary jaws with cooperating latch parts which automatically engage each other when theswitch is slammed shut and prevent rebound of the switch blade away from the switch block toward an open position.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a multiphase installation of switches mounted on a pole and manually controlled by a single operating shaftjournaled on the pole and connected to the switches by individual links. a

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of one of the switches with a portion of the elongated switch blade and resilient arcing horns broken away to show the remaining parts of the switch on a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections taken on the corresponding section lines of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a detail section of some parts shown in FIG.

"s shifted to a different position.

Each switch unit is mounted on an individual metal channel support S carried on a pole P (FIG. 1). A hearing 3 (FIG. 2.) on the support journals a shaft 4 to which are fixed one or more insulators 5. A crank arm 7 extends radially from shaft 4 and is connected by an individual link 8 to an upright shaft 9 journaled on the pole and oscillatable manually by a handle lever 10 at its lower end adjacent to the ground.

Above the uppermost insulator 5 is a base 14 which turns with shaft 4 about an axis K on support S and insulator 5. A bearing cap or blade carrier 13 swivels on base 14 about axis'K and may turn with the shaft and also relative theretov A pivot shaft 13 secured to carrier 13 includes an inner contact member M with silver contact buttons B (FIG. 2). Shaft 13 extends upwardly from bearing cap 13 and mounts a pivot cap 15 having a conductor plate 18 forming the right hand terminal of the switch to which a transformer line (not shown) may be clamped.

An elongated tubular blade 11 is journaled at its inner,

right hand end in carrier cap 13 about a longitudinal axis L at right angles to axis K. The left hand outer end of blade 11 has silver overlay cam contacts 17 normally disposed vertically to engage and spread aws 15 on a terminal mounting 12.. Resilient arcing horns 27 have their right hand ends clamped to blade 11 near its bearing in cap 13 and the left hand ends of horns 27 normally engage hooks 28 on left hand terminal 12. Projecting from blade 11 transversely of its axis L is a lever 19 having a ball-like terminal fitting in a corresponding concavebearing in the outer end of an arm 21 extending from base 14 transversely of its axis K. When base 14 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction (FIG. 8).

The blade is rotated on its longitudinal axis L about 22 /2 (as indicated at X, FIG. 4) to the position shown at 17 and contacts 17 clear jaws 15 and current is shunted wholly through resilient arcing horns. 27 to contact hooks 28. During this initial movement, upstanding lugs 29 on base 14 move into engagement with depending lugs 32 on cap 13 (FIG. 9) and further rotation of shaft 9 positively rotates cap 13 and blade 11 with arm 21 and base 14 about the axis K of the bearing capto position 11 (FIG. 3), in which the arcing horns 27 are curved as at 27 and the circuit is still closed. Continued rotation of shaft 9 and base 14 about axis K moves the switch blade to position 11 and the arcing horns snap past hook terminals 28 and the switch is open. Horns 27 immediately resume their initial parallel relation to blade 11. All the above described structure and operation is substantially the same as disclosed in Patent 2,779,830.

In the present structure, each upstanding lug 29 on base 14 is slit to receive an end of a fiat spring 30 (FIGS. 8, 9). The other end of the spring slidably bears against the face of an opposing lug 31 on cap 13. The springs are stressed to thrust lugs 29 and lugs 31 toward each other and to maintain cap 13 and base 14 in a normal angular relation as shown in FIG. 8. Manual thrust counterclockwise on shaft 9 and base'14 spreads the springs until horns 27 clear hooks 2 8 and then springs 30 promptly move cap 13 counterclockwise to its original angular relation to base 14 which results in lever 19 being returned to its original position and contacts 17 being disposed vertically. The action of springs 30 will overcome any time lag which might otherwise result from friction between bearing cap 13 and base 14 and from slow return movement of shaft 9 and the springs will thus prevent blade 11 being moved to closing posi tion before earns 17 are upright, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4. Hence, earns '17 are assured of contact and tight frictional engagement with jaws 15 when manual movement of handle 16 and shaft 9 returns base 14 and bearing cap 13 to their original FIG. 8 position.

When the blade is swung to switch closing positionit should be slammed closed with considerable force to thrust the resilient arcing horns between terminals 28. Thisresults in a tendency for the outer end of the blade to strike an opposing lug 37 (FIG. 4) on terminal plate 12 and bounce back to a position away from the terminal. Also, a blade six or seven feet long sometimes may distort axially so as to turn its cam terminals from a normal vertical position. Also where several switches are mounted on the same pole it is possible for the pole to twist axially between them and affect the synchronizing of the successive blades.

The present structure avoids these undesirable conditions by providing a safety lock arrangement best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A band 41 clamped to blade 11 mounts a latch 43 pivoted at 45 and thrust clockwise by a spring 4'7. A cooperating latch element 49 is secured to the terminal and elements 43, 49 interengage when the blade is swung fully closed and it cannot rebound to an open position.

Sometimes a surge of voltage in the transmission line, such as could result from lightning or a short circuit, passing through the right angled path Z (FIG. 3), would create resistance tending to swing blade 11 open if it were held closed only by the frictional engagement of its cam contacts 17 with terminal jaws 15. Latch 43, 49 posttively prevents such opening or other accidental swing= ingofblade lll away from the left hand terminal.

A shoulder 48 to the right of pivot 45 engages clamp band 41 and limits the spring thrust movement of the latch to such extent that when blade 11 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction (FIG. the latch will be disengaged to permit opening of the switch.

A shield 50 is secured by a bolt 51 to a terminal plate 12% and protects the latch elements from collecting ice and snow and inteffering with their intended action.

The details of the structure may be varied without departing ffom the spirit of the invention which embodies the prompt automatic return of the switch blade to its normal position, when it is shifted from that position and the prompt and secure latching of the blade to the terminal when the blade is moved to closed position, and the exclusive use of modifications of the described structure covered by the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is: I v

1. In a high voltage air break, disconnect switch, an elongated blade, a terminal at each end of said blade, means mounting the blade to swing about one terminal, a contact on the other end of said blade, said blade being rotatable about its longitudinal axis to shift said contact into and out of engagement with the other terminal when the blade is adjacent the latter-mentioned terminal, and positive latch elements on the latter-mentioned terminal and the blade engageable with and disengageable from each other by angular movement of the blade about its longitudinal axis prior to swinging of the blade about its other end.

2. In a high voltage air break, disconnect switch, spaced terminals, an elongated blade for connecting said terminals, means on one terminal mounting the blade to rotate about its longitudinal axis, means mounting the blade to swing transversely of its length about said terminal to move its opposite end toward and from the other terminal to close and open the switch, spaced contact jaws on said other terminal, contacts on said other end of the blade frictionally engaging said jaws when the switch is closed, a stationary latch element adjacent to said other terminal, a spring pressed latch element pivoted on the blade to rotate about the blade axis in one direction into engagement with said stationary latch element as the blade closes the switch, and a stop limiting said latchengaging swinging relative to the blade axis, whereby rotation of the blade about its longitudinal axis in the opposite direction will disengage said latch elements.

3. In a high voltage, air break, disconnect switch, stationary support structure, a switch jaw thereon, an elongated switch blade having a contact element at one end engaging and disengaging said jaw as said blade is ID- tated about its longitudinal axis when said blade is swung to switch-closing position, a base member spaced from said jaw and having a pivotal mounting on said structure, a carrier having a pivotal mounting on said base member, said pivotal mountings having a common axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said blade, said carrier mounting journalling the other end of said blade for swinging movement about said common axis and for rotation about the blade longitudinal axis, interengaging lugs on said base member and carrier spaced apart angularly of the pivotal mountings and limiting their relative pivotal movement but providing angular lost motion between them, a lever fixed on and projecting from the blade transversely of its longitudinal axis, an arm fixed on and. projecting from said base member transversely of the axis of its mounting, the outer end of said arm engaging said lever and rotating said blade on its journaled end during said lost motion and independently of the swinging of the blade about said common axis, a hand lever operably connected to said base member for positively pivoting the latter on its mounting and positi ely pivoting said carrier on its mounting and thereby swinging said blade, at the end of said lost motion, and spring means automatically taking up said lost motion when thrust on said hand lever in one direction ceases, and positive latch elements on the latter-mentioned terminal and the blade engageable with and disengageable from each other by angular movement of the blade about its longitudinal axis prior to swinging of the blade about its other end.

4. In a high voltage, air break, disconnect switch, a shaft manually rotatable about an axis in one plane, a support member carried by and rotatable therewith about said axis, a bearing cap member rotatable with and on said support member about said axis, an elongated switch blade carried at one end by said cap member and extending therefrom normal to said axis and rotatable in said cap member about the longitudinal axis of the blade, cam contact elements on the opposite end of said blade, a switch terminal engageable with and disengageable from said cam elements as said blade is rotated in said cap member, lugs projecting inwardly from one of said members spaced apart angularly of said axis, and a lug projecting outwardly from the other of said members between said spaced lugs but substantially narrower angularly of said axis than the angular distance between the first-mentloned lugs, a spring engageable with said members and yieldingly thrusting them in one angular direction but accommodating relative angular movement of said members during shifting of the single lug between said spaced lugs and thereby providing lost motion connection between said members, means connecting one of said members to said blade for rotation of the latter in said cap member during lost motion movement of said members, a stationary latch element adjacent to said terminal, a spring pressed latch element pivoted on the blade to rotate about the blade axis in one direction into engagement with said stationary latch element as the blade closes the switch, and a stop limiting said latch-engaging swinging relative to the blade axis, whereby rotation of the blade its longitudinal axis in the opposite direction will disengage said latch elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,688 3/1933 Alsaker et a1. 20048 1,912,615 6/1933 Alsaker et a1 M 200-48 2,779,830 1/1957 Turner et al. ZOO-48 KATHLEEN H. CLAFF Y, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

N, C, GARVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN A HIGH VOLTAGE AIR BREAK, DISCONNECT SWITCH, SPACED TERMINALS, AN ELONGATED BLADE FOR CONNECTING SAID TERMINALS, MEANS ON ONE TERMINAL MOUNTING THE BLADE TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, MEANS MOUTING THE BLADE TO SWING TRANSVERSELY OF ITS LENGTH ABOUT SAID TERMINAL TO MOVE ITS OPPOSITE END TOWARD AND FROM THE OTHER TERMINAL TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE SWITCH, SPACED CONTACT JAWS ON SAID OTHER TERMINAL, CONTACTS ON SAID OTHE END OF THE BLADE FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID JAWS WHEN THE SWITCH IS CLOSED, A STATIONARY LATCH ELEMENT ADJACENT TO SAID OTHER TERMINAL, A SPRING PRESSED LATCH ELEMENT PIVOTED ON THE BLADE TO ROTATE ABOUT THE BLADE AXIS IN ONE DIRECTION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATIONARY LATCH ELEMENT AS THE BLADE CLOSED THE SWITCH, AND A STOP LIMITING SAID LATCH-ENGAGING SWINGING RELATIVE TO THE BLADE AXIS, WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE BLADE ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WILL DISENGAGE SAID LATCH ELEMENTS. 